Frugal Vacuum

I have this Hoover-U5180-900-Cyclonic-Bagless-Upright Vacuum Cleaner that I purchased over two years ago for forty bucks on Amazon. It has worked pretty good and I'm always amazed at how much dog hair it picks up from just one room. I empty the bagless canister a couple times whenever I vacuum because it just seems gross to have all that dust and hair whirling around. Anyway, its been a pretty good vacuum, but the front wheel carriage broke a short while ago, and its a hassle to have to push the thing around, instead of wheel it around.

 

So I was watching www.slickdeals.net for a deal on vacuum cleaners, but I missed out on a good deal a week ago. So, now I'm going to do the frugal thing. I'm going to just repair the thing by purchasing a wheel carriage part for $3.49 and fix it myself.

 

A lot of times it is really easy to fix things rather than replace them. Google is your friend. Just google your item and part needed and see what comes up. Usually, for a fraction of the cost of the item it can be repaired. 

Evil Scale Update Week 2

It was a disappointing week of dieting. I still managed to burn more than I ate, but only lost 1 pound this week for a total loss of 3.6 lbs. Remember my goal is to lose 15 lbs, but at this rate it will take a while. Its been so hot and steamy, that its hard to get plenty of outdoor exercise without getting fatigued from the heat. I did get a bicycle ride in on Sunday morning and it felt harder to ride my bike with no panniers, than it does with them loaded down on my way to work riding.

 

I did ride my bike to work today despite the 40% chance of rain in the forecast. One of my favorite treats to eat this past week has been a fruit cup. We got pineapple, mango, cantaloupe, watermelon, strawberries, grapes and blueberries mixed into little fruit cups and they are the perfect snack - low calorie and satisfy the thirst and hunger.

Publix Sneak Peek BOGO 8/5-8/11

My favorite cereal, Honey Bunches of Oats is going to be BOGO, but the coupon matchups for it are slim. I didn't see any money makers but who knows what will come up with all the geniuses doing matchups. To see the complete listing of BOGO and grocery specials, check out True Couponing.

 

BOGO's

 

Dole Salad 5-12 oz bag BOGO (surprising low price)

Mott's 100% apple juice or Juice Medleys, Mott's for Tots, or Mott's Plus 46-64oz bott BOGO $2.95

General Mills Cereals: Lucky Charms, Cookie Crisp, Reese's Puffs 11.25-13oz box or Golden Grahams, Cinnamon Toast Crunch 16-17oz box BOGO $3.99

Bantry Bay Mussels assorted varieties 16oz pkg BOGO $4.99

Alouette Crème De Brie Cheese 5 oz pkg BOGO $5.99
Juicy Juice 46oz BOGO $2.65Post cereal Honey Bunches of Oats 13-18oz (excludes family size) BOGO $3.99
Progresso 100% Natural Broth (Chicken or Beef) 32 oz ctn BOGO $2.59
Wish-Bone Dressing 16oz bott BOGO $2.69
Ronzoni  Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat  Blend pasta 12oz – 13.25oz pkg BOGO $1.79
Ragu Pasta Sauce 16-26.3 oz jar (excluding Organic) BOGO $2.27
Betty Crocker premium muffin mix 15.2-18.25 oz box BOGO $2.59
Betty Crocker or Sunkist Fruit Snacks 4.5-9 oz box BOGO $2.49
Crystal Light  8qt canister or On The Go  7-10 ct box  BOGO $2.99
Crisco 100% Extra Virgin Olive oil 16.9oz bott BOGO $5.99
Vlasic Stackers Dills or Pickles or spears BOGO $2.47
Nabisco Variety snack packs or Kraft Handi Snacks 12-pack BOGO $5.99
Pepperidge Farm Swirl bread 16oz loaf BOGO $3.59
Lance crackers or Cookies or Wafers 6-10oz pkg BOGO $2.89
Blue Diamond Almonds 6 oz can BOGO $2.95
Mentos Pure fresh gum 50 ct BOGO $3.29
Healthy Choice Premium Ice Cream Bars or Sandwiches 15-24 oz carton BOGO $3.99
Klondike Bar or Slim-a-Bear16-27oz box BOGO $3.49
Morey's Fish Creations 10oz box BOGO $6.59
Breyers Ice Cream  48 oz carton BOGO $4.69
Yoplait Trix Yogurt BOGO $2.79
Nestle Toll House refrig cookie Dough 16-16/5oz pkg BOGO $2.79
Arrid XX anti-perspirant deodorant 2.6-2.8oz or Arm&Hammer Deodorant  BOGO $2.99
Chinet Classic White Plates, Lunch, Dinner, Compartment or Platters 24-55 ct pkg BOGO $5.99
Shout stain remover 22 oz bott BOGO $2.99
Scrubbing Bubbles 22 oz can BOGO$3.29
Kraft South Beach Living High Protein Cereal bars 5.88-6.15oz box BOGO $2.99

Kanes Strike Out - Get Your Free Pizza

Sunday the Rays did it again, 10 strikeouts! That means free pizza. Just go to http://www.kanesstrikeoutcontest.com/ and print your certificate. I would HURRY and print one for the 7/31 game, and after the game is over in a little bit and they change the date on the certificate then print one for the 8/1 game. That way you can bring in two to your nearest Kanes for a free Papa Johns Pizza.

Rays Get 10 Strikeouts, Free Pizza Again

Well they beat the Yanks Friday night but didn't get the strikeouts, and tonight (Saturday) they got the 12 strikeouts but lost the game 5-4. I hope they win tomorrow!. Anyway, If you're in the Tampa Bay area, that means FREE PIZZA from Papa Johns. Just go to www.kanesstrikeoutcontest.com and print your certificate within 24 hours of the game. Then you have 3 days to bring it to a Kanes Furniture store near you to exchange it for a free pizza coupon. The coupons now are valid through 10/25/10.

Now you can bring in your Thursday 7/29 certificate and todays 7/31 certificate, to get 2 pizza coupons in one trip.

Window Shopping

A few weeks ago, the passenger window of the 04' Camry started failing us. The window started to lug and lurch when we tried lowering it or raising it, kind of like the motor was failing. We left it closed and decided we better get it fixed before our racing trip coming up in August. Well, today we're planning on giving blood after work and the location is near the car dealer. It would be an ideal time to both drive and then drop off a car, so I called the dealer to figure out whats involved.

 

Well to my surprise, it costs a bunch of money to make a car window go up and down. First there is the inspection fee to determine if its just the regulator or the motor, or both. And then of course they don't have parts for THAT in stock, so it takes a day to get it from somewhere else, another dealer or supplier. So essentially, it means two trips to the dealer - or leave the car for two days. For us its not that big a deal because we have other wheels to get to work, but for some people this would suck.

 

So I'm wondering what is the value of the having a window go up and down, and what is the urgency to do it. Personally, we do not like to own cars or anything for that matter, that is makeshift or only partially operable. I like everything to work as designed, so we usually fix anything that breaks right away, or we replace it. I hate broken crap, or using stuff that doesn't work. I hate that the back window windshield wiper on the SUV is wacky and only clears 1/2 the window, but I guess I can live with that. But can I live with a window that doesn't go down? Maybe. Is it worth $682 to have the window go down? Maybe.

 

But you know us - the frugal ones, we have to check out our options, call another dealer who might have parts, find a competitor coupon that they would match, or go to the local guy Elmer around the corner who's done good work for us before on the cars. I might even check out youtube to see if there's a video on how to do it myself. Who knows it might be really simple, just to pop out the door molding and pop in a quick connect regulator. Its possible. I could seek advice from my un-frugal brother who is a service manager at a dealer, but he would tell me to quit being so cheap and just bring it to the dealer.

 

We ultimately will get the window fixed because the car only has 64,000 miles on it and is intended to last forever for us. But for now all we'll be doing is some window shopping.

Boost My Blog Friday

hosted by Designitchic

 

Welcome Blog Hoppers -

 

Good Morning, Happy Friday, Payday (once a month for us gov workers)! I'm excited for the Rays to kick Yankee ass in the sold out 3 game series, which means more free pizza if they get 10 strikeouts each game.

 

Leave a comment and I'll come check out your blog too!

Rays Get 10 Strikeouts Again - Free Pizza

Thery're on a roll, first a no-hitter on Monday night, and then Tuesday night the Rays got 10 Strikeouts, and again today, Thursday! If you're in the Tampa Bay area, that means FREE PIZZA from Papa Johns. Just go to www.kanesstrikeoutcontest.com and print your certificate within 24 hours of the game. Then you have 3 days to bring it to a Kanes Furniture store near you to exchange it for a free pizza coupon. The coupons now are valid through 10/25/10.

Now you can bring in your Tuesday certificate and todays certificate, to get 2 pizza coupons in one trip.

My Time Is Worth More

Last night we were scheduled to work security at the Dave Matthews concert at the amphitheatre. We've worked that show four times in the past, and every single time there are thunderous storms and heavy blowing wind. This time was no different, except the storms blew in before the show, right as we were getting off work from the boring government work day. I read a great blog post on www.WiseBread.com about replacing a crappy job. The first sentence was about the crappier the job is, the easier it is to replace. Or in my case, just don't go.

 

We ended up calling off the concert gig, blaming it on car problems and we couldn't make it there. I felt terribly guilty about it, but I had been dreading the drama that goes along with working security. First the weather always is a factor, with extreme heat conditions and warnings to limit outdoor exposure. Here we were planning on standing for at least 6 hours straight in the heat. The other unknown is where we'd be deployed. The gates suck because you have to stand in the sun and search peoples bags, and throw away their beverages that they try to sneak in. I hate doing that, so I usually ignore the beverage if I can and not have some other newbie security guy next to me point out that I missed it. Also working the lawn sucks too because the people are so wasted and they just pee everywhere and smoke all kinds of things up there, and generally are loud and drunk and obnoxious. Anyway, there are only a few good positions for security where you can have nice guests who paid too much money for their tickets to get wasted and miss the show up front. These are usually assigned to the regular workers who come to every single event, obviously we don't have the clout anymore.

 

I went for a walk with a friend on our afternoon break, and we were discussing the concert and my dread of going to another job after work. He asked why we were doing it, since he knew we have seen DMB many times, plus we don't particularly care for the music - its kind of sleeper. I guess it helps if you're buzzed which we aren't when we work. He knows its not for the money, a measly fifty bucks each to work a show. I can save more than that in one good grocery shop using coupons! I didn't have a good reason why we worked security. We've done it for six years and have attended hundreds of concerts, so there's rarely a performer that comes along we haven't already seen that we want to see.

 

So, here I have two gnawing coincidences today, the blog post and my conversation with my friend. Both made me question working security. I realized my free time is worth more than they pay me. I didn't want to give up my evening of free time. I'm not sure I can put a price tag on what my free time is worth, but now I know its at least $50.

Rays Get 10 Strikeouts = Free Pizza

Thery're on a roll, first a no-hitter on Monday night, and now Tuesday night the Rays get 10 Strikeouts. If you're in the Tampa Bay area, that means FREE PIZZA from Papa Johns. Just go to www.kanesstrikeoutcontest.com and print your certificate within 24 hours of the game tonight. Then you have 3 days to bring it to a Kanes Furniture store near you to exchange it for a free pizza coupon. The coupons now are valid through 10/25/10.

 

They'll probably get 10K on Wednesday and maybe Thursday too, so you could wait to visit Kanes until Friday and turn in 3 certificates at once, saving yourself extra trips to the store.